The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-04-01
ID. r. sEYRERT GUILTY.
SO SAYS A UNION COUNTY JURY.

The case of d. F. Seybert charged with
burglary, was moved to Union county at
his request, and was tried at Lewisburg
last week After hard fought battle last
ing the whole week, the jury found the de-
fendant guilty in manner and form as in
dicated.
Judge Barnett of Perry county occupied
the bench, and District Attorney Billmeyer
was assisted in the prosecution by G. e..
Barkley and c. B. Jackson Esqs. of this
county, and John b Linn Esq. of Lewis
Durg- The defendant was represented by
E. II. Ikeler, q. G. Evans, and Dill &
Beale.
We cannot give space to detailed re.
port of the trial, but clip the following from
the Luwisburg Saturday Ntus of March 26.
Never, probably, in the history Of crimin-
al action in this section, has 30 much inter-
est been centered in case as has been di.
rected to the contest now before our courts.
MIR. Daniel Seybert, a resident of Columbia
Co., has been indicted by the Common
wealth for larceny, and the verdict of the
jury will decide point OF law that cannot
now be found on record. Owing to preju.
dice against defendant change of venue
was granted and the case brought here for
trial. The difference between this case
and ordinary burglary cases, and those
where detectives have been employed to
ferret out crimes and who have been par
ties to the crimes; that the detective in this
case committed the breaking and entering
of the house and was the principal in the
first degree, and had notified the owners
OF the buildings that burglary would be
committed, and the party charged in the
indictment was the principal in the second
degree aiding and abetting commission
of the offence. The detective breaking
and entering the house with no felonious
intent and none being committed, the
question was whether the principal in the
second degree could be convicted by trans.
ferrng his intent to the principal of first
degree.
The leading testimony was as follows:
Eli Sherwood watched premises of Mrs.
Jackson the night of the burglary. Saw a
man come into the yard and recognized
him as Daniel F. Seybert. Six other men
in stable watching with him.
Charles Holland said he was employed
as a detective by citizens of Salem at the
time of the burglary. Had known Seybcrt
for some time On Aug, "a Seybert pro-
posed to rob Mrs Jackson's house Wit
ness informed Jackson and Zehnder that
burglary would be attempted. The at
tempt was made that night.
On cross examination witness admitted
that he had been in the penitentary four
years.
Julius Hoft was watching in the stable
that night and thought he saw d. F.
Seybert pass the window.
Mary Murray corroborated Holland.
Abner Wells thought he could identify
seybert as the man in rhe yard.
The defense set up an alibi, and num-
Der of witnesses were sworn to prove that
Seybert was at home on the night of the
burglary. About seventy were examined
on 10th sides. The case opened on Tues
day morning and the verdict of guilty was
rendered on Saturday afternoon.
The Neps contains fair likeness of p.
T. Barnum which it calls d. F., Seybert,
and also alleged portraits of Holland and
Mrs. Murray. If its report of the trial is
as unlike the facts as these portraits are
unlike the people they are intended to rep
resent, but little reliance can be placed
upon it,
A motion has been made for new trial.